Species:

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra)

Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia)

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Length (cm):
44-54
35-37
Wingspan (cm):
79-90
48-54
Weight (gram):
650-1300
310-490
Size group:
Crow-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Medium sized diving duck. Male all black except orange spot on bill. Female dark brown with contrasting light grey cheeks. Differs from Velvet Scoter in all plumages by lack of white wing-bars, and longer tail. Birds resting on the surface characteristically bow their head when occasionally flapping the wings. Wings held tight against body when diving. Last two characters usable for identification at very long range. Also tend to stay closer together in groups than Velvet Scoter.

Sound:

More vocal than other Scoters. Short, whistling sounds, sometimes reminiscent of a male teal, but a little bit deeper in pitch.

Display-call male:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Jarek Matusiak,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Appearance:

Easily overlooked, secretive grouse. Small and compact, with small head and rounded body. Upper parts grey, wings speckled in brown. Tail grey with broad black terminal band. Male with short crest, contrasting black throat patch and generally brighter coloured than female.

Sound:

Song an extremely high pitched whistle; "piuuuuuuuiiii pju pju pju". Start-note typically sustained, first descending then ascending and descending again. Often followed by three short conclusive "pju, pju pju". Warning call of female a bubbling thrill.

Male song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:ressaure, Licence,Link,

CC-photo:mattisj, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:pilot_micha, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Grouse-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file